Controlling flow of subdivided solid particles



Nov. 14, 1950 s. F. ADAMS CONTROLLING FLOW 0F SUBDIVIDED soup PARTICLES Filed Dec. 6, 1948 ji'v/ezz 20 2": 680798 Fflda v25 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 CONTROLLING FLOW OF SUBD IVIDED SOLID PARTICLES George F. Adams, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Delaware Application December 6, 1948, Serial No. 63,824

4 Claims.

1 This invention relates to an improved means for controlling the rate of flow of subdivided solid particles from one contact zone to another, by the use of fixed venturi restriction and adwhich is not readily subjected to harmful erosive wear, or to plugging and coking such as is encountered in many types of adjustable orifice devices and slide valves and the like, particujustable pressure controlling means, whereby to 5 r y n high temperature ydrocarbon processeliminate a slide valve, star feeder, or other ing. mechanical control device for metering the flow Briefly the present invention embodie a of solid particles in a processing operation. method for controlling the flow of subdi ided The flow control method of this invention may solid Contact P l s from one confined conbe used to particular advantage with catalysts tacting zone to another by passing the solid or other solid material utilized in catalytic or particles in a continuous stream through a venchemical processing operations wherein solid turi shaped restriction into an enlarged receivparticles are passed continuously from one zone ing Zone, introducing an inert fluid medium into to another. For example, in the moving and the receiving zone at a controlled superatmosfluidized bed catalytic conversion operation, Dherie pressure, Continuously discharging the catalyst is used in powdered or specially manusolid particles from the lower end of the receivfaetured subdivided form within an aerated and ing zone in a U-D and mai ta n ng a pressure movable fluid-like contact bed of a reaction zone, e o the receiving Zone, a d co uously disto effect the catalytic conversion of a reactant charg ng t e p rticles from the U-path into stream, such as the cracking of hydrocarbons. another confined contacting zone at a rate de- Such an operation is also preferably carried out p e upon the pressure differential mainin a continuous manner, with the solid subtained across the venturi. divided catalytic material being passed in a The inert fluid medium ay e t n, fluid-like stream to a regenerating zone, wheresteam, carbon dioxide, or perhaps air, the parin the particles are reactivated in a suitable ticula! medium being Somewhat pe d t p n manner to permit their reuse in the reaction the Particular processing op ration in which this zone Therefore t t i is preferably control method is utilized. The enlarged receivpassed continuously from the reaction zone to ing Zone is p e y V rt cally disp d and the regenerating zone and likewise in a continuelongated in order to pr vide a variable level of ous stream from the regenerating zone to the solid material in the lower portion thereof. The reaction zone in a cyclic flow and under suitable p e pp g fl medium s ha ed to controlled conditions of temperature, pressure, the 11111091 end of the receiving one in order to quantity of materials, and at rates of flow maineffect a pressure n h p r c am bein taming a continuous d m t conversion discharged from the venturi restriction and the operatjon In any peration using moving fluid medium iS discharged from the receiving streams of particles, all portions f the nit zone through an adjustable control which will contacted by the partjdes may be ubje ted t provide a desired controlled superatmospheric erosion, with mechanical control devices being Pressure therein- The Particles being discharged particularly subjected to operating wear and from the receiving Z0118 s in a pressure sealerosion, and as a result operating difficulties are ing 18% effecting a U-column of the solid parti- -encountemd frequentl t Such devices, cles, whereby the seal leg maintains the desired Itis therefore a principal object of the present p ra m ph pressure W h n the ivin invention to provide a method for controlling the Zone and at the outlet of the venturi restriction pressure drop and flow rate of a parti l stream connecting therewith. Also, in order to provide passing from one contacting zone to another in e e l t y the w control method a manner eliminating the usual mechanical of this invent on, the discharge leg of the U-tube feeding devices, orifice valves, slide valve or the atrangemfmt 1s Provldfid m manner Wmch like for controlling the rate of flow of solid t varying helght? m legs thereof and.the discharge of the solid particle stream at various the transfer stream. partlffles 1n levels into the next contacting chamber, or It 15 also an ObJeFt of the present Y Ion to alternately, a transfer conduit connecting with use a fixed venturi in a manner permitting adthe subsequent contacting chamben ustable and controllable pressure drop across It is a particular advantage f this invention the venturi and thereby control the rate of flow to provide a method which regulates the flow of Of particles from one Zone to anothersubdivided solid particles from one zone to an- It is still another objection of the Present other without utilizing the usual mechanical Vent o to provide a method and means types of feeding or valve mech nisms. In operaregulating the flow of the solid particles from tion, the regulation of the fluid medium being one contact zone to another by the use of a vencharged to the receiving zone serves to control turi restriction and a pressure control system and adjust the rate of flow of the particles from the first contacting zone through the receiving zone to the second contacting zone. A smooth venturi restriction is also an advantage over the usual orifice or slide valve type of controlling device, in that it is less subject to erosion as well as plugging by solid particles. It is also easier to compensate for erosive wear in the venturi by altering the pressure on the downstream side thereof than it is to correct for excessive wear in orifices, or blades, or other parts of any mechanical feeding device.

The improved system for regulating the flow of solid particles from one zone to another is also readily adaptable to automatic control methods whereby the flow of the particles is maintained through mechanically operating pressure control instruments.

Reference to the accompanying drawing will serve to further clarify the method of controlling particle flow in accordance with the present invention and to point out further advantageous features of the operation.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a contacting chamber I suitable to receive and discharge catalyst or other subdivided solid particles in a contacting operation. The lower end of the chamber I has a tapered head 2, an inlet 3 and an interior perforated plate 4, whereby particles in a vaporous or gaseous stream may be introduced through the inlet 3 and pass upwardly into the interior of the contacting chamber and subsequently contacted with the fluid stream in a turbulent fluidized type of bed within the lower portion of the contacting chamber I. An openended conduit 5 communicates with the interior of the chamber I and provides means for continuously withdrawing the finely divided material from the contact bed within the chamber. This arrangement is typical of a fluidized contacting operation, however, it is not intended to limit the present method of controlling the flow of solid particles from the contacting chamber I to a fluidized operation nor the particles to subdivided catalysts.

The withdrawal streamof solid particles, descending in the conduit 5, passes through a venturi 6 and is discharged into a receiver I. The receiving zone in chamber I provides an enlarged disengaging space where the particles may be allowed to settle into a continuously moving column of particles, and in the drawing, the upper extremity of the column of subdivided particles is indicated by the broken line 8. A fluid inlet line 8, with control valve I0, provides means for introducing or bleeding in a stream preferably gaseous, such as steam, nitrogen, or the like and maintaining a given desired pressure within the upper portion of the receiving chamber I. An outlet line II having a control valve I2 also provides means for releasing the gaseous medium passed to the receiver, and with a suitable pressure control valv l2 there may readily be maintained a desired pressure in the receiving zone. Suitable baflles I3 may be placed over the inlet and outlet bleed connections in order to prevent a turbulent action with the particles descending through the receiving zone I. Although not shown in the drawing, means may also be provided for recovering solid particles, which may be carried out with the bleed stream through line I I, and for returning them to the receiving chamber I, or the transfer conduit I4 connecting with the lower end of the chamber I. The fluid bleedin system connecting with receiver chamber I, provides means for controlling pressure P: at the outlet end of the venturi 6 and in turn provide means for maintaining a controlled variable pressure drop across the venturi i. The pressure at the inlet end of the venturi 8 is indicated in the drawing as being P1, while the pressure in the upper portion of the receiver chamber 1 or at the outlet end of the venturi 8, is indicated by the symbol P2.

In order to maintain a given desired pressure within the receiving zone, the column of solid particles descending from the chamber I are passed through a U-tube arrangement provided by conduit I4 that effects a pressure seal within chamber I by means of a column of solid particles in the seal leg. In the particular embodiment illustrated, a plurality of outlet conduit I5, I8 and II, with the respective valves I8, I9 and 20, provide adjustable means for withdrawing the particles at varying levels in the rising leg of U-tube pressure seal. Normally a fixed height outlet from the outlet leg of the U-column is used and can. accommodate slight pressure changes, however, where a rapid flow of solid particles is desired and a relatively low pressure P2 maintained within th receiving chamber I, it may be found, for example, that the lower valve I 8 should be opened and the conduit I5 utilized to pass the solid material into the subsequent contacting chamber or transfer conduit 2|. On the other hand, where a relatively high pressure P2 is desired, the particle level may become rather low in the receiving chamber- I and the particle column in the right-hand leg of the U-tube arrangement rather high, necessitating the use of the upper transfer conduit 1 I, with the valve 20 being opened and the lower valves l8 and I9 are closed. The solid material in the U-shaped conduit I4 must of course be maintained in a movable state so that the column of particles may exert a proper hydrostatic action, as well as maintain and permit a constant movement and transfer of particles to the subsequent contacting zone. Suitable aeration may be provided by one or more aerating lines 22 having control valve 23, placed advantageously to prevent clogging of the particles within the U-tube.

To maintain a suitable and constant flow of particles from one contacting chamber to another, the pressure within the second contacting chamber or transfer conduit 2|, indicated as P3, plus the hydrostatic pressure in the outlet leg of U-column, must of course be somewhat smaller than the pressure P2 maintained in the upper portion of the receiving chamber I and the hydrostatic pressure in the inlet leg of the U-column. The P2P3 pressure diflerential is maintained by the U-column of particles in the sealing leg nately the rate of transferring the solid particles from one zone to another, is maintained and controlled by the pressure diflerential across the venturi 6. The difference, P1- Pz is the driving force by which the particle flow to the receiving chamber is obtained and controlled. Actually, the flow through a venturi is proportional to the square root of the difference of the pressures at the inlet end of the venturi and at outlet end of theventuri, (\/1Pz), with P1 being controlled by the pressure within chamber l and the length of the column of solid particles providing additional hydrostatic pressure up to the point of the entrance of the venturi B, and with P2 being controlled by the pressure of the bleedin stream introduced through line 9, or control valve l2, in the outlet line H.

In a preferred control arrangement, the venturi 6 should not have a small vena contracta, that is the small area of the restricted zone, across the venturi should not be too much smaller than the line size of conduit 5, in order to allow a greater range of control over the particle flow. Thus, in operation the pressure P2 when varied will effect a greater control over the rate of flow of the solid particles. In the normal operation of a conversion unit, the pressure P1 would normally be substantially constant and the pressure P2 adjusted to provide a desired rate of flow of the particles from one zone to another, with P3 in the subsequent contacting zone, like Pl, remaining substantially constant and the height of the particle column in the tube conduit being allowed to assume proper levels to maintain the seal on the receiving chamber 1 and the control pressure P2. However, the present improved control arrangement may readily be made to adapt itself to a varying operation or to upset conditions in the contacting unit which in turn result in a varying pressure P1. The pressure of the bleed-fluid or gas entering through line 9 or pressure control valve l2, may be automatically controlled and varied in accordance with a changein the pressure within chamber I, while the levels in the pressure seal leg may be allowed to automatically adjust themselves to maintain a desired pressure P2.

It is not intended to limit the present method of controlling and metering the flow of solid particles to any particular type of particles or to any particular type of operation, however as hereinbefore noted, the method of control is particularly adaptable for catalytic operations wherein small subdivided solid particles of catalysts are passed continuously from one contacting zone to another. In such catalytic operations, a stripping action may well be combined with the control method. For example, where catalyst particles moving in a continuous stream have entrained gaseous or volatile material passing with the particles, it is frequently advantageous to strip and remove them before they reach the subsequent contacting zone, in which case a stripping medium such as steam or other inert medium is passed through the moving stream to re move such entrained vapors or volatile matter. The upper portion of the receiving chamber 1 and the bleed-in stream composed of a suitable stripping medium, provides an advantageous way of effecting a stripping of the particle stream during their transfer from one contacting chamber to another.

While it is necessary that the particles being transferred must be of a comminuted nature and capable of being transferred as a fluid stream, it is not intended to limit the control method to catalysts or to operations which utilize fluidized contact of the particles in the particular contacting chambers of the unit. Also it is not intended tolimit the pressure seal leg as provided by conduit It to an exact U-arrangement as shown, with the various outlet conduits I 5, l6 and I], for obviously equivalent types of seal legs may be constructed, and other means, such as a weir, may be employed at the outlet end of the U-arrangement to pass the particles into the subsequent contacting zone from a variable height particle column.

I claim as my invention:

1. A method for controlling the flow of subdivided solid particles from one confined contacting zone to another which comprises, passing said particles from a first contacting zone through a venturi restriction into an enlarged receiving zone, introducing an inert fluid medium into said receiving zone and providing a controlled superatmospheric pressure therein, continuously discharging particles from said receiving zone to a second contacting zone through a moving column of particles effecting a pressure seal on said receiving zone and maintaining said controlled pressure therein, and adjusting the pressure in said receiving zone to maintain a controlled pressure therein and a resulting pressure differential across said venturi between first said contacting zone and said receiving zone whereby to control the flow of subdivided particles from said first contacting zone to said second contacting zone.

2. A method for metering the flow of subdivided solid particles from one confined contacting zone to a second confined contacting zone which comprises, passing said particles from a first contacting zone through a fixed venturi restriction into an enlarged confined receiving zone, introducing an inert fluid medium into said receiving zone and withdrawing said medium therefrom in a manner maintaining a controlled superatmospheric pressure therein, continuously discharging particles from said enlarged receiving zone in continuously moving U-shaped particle column maintaining a hydrostatic pressure seal on said receiving zone, and continuously passing subdivided solid particles from said U- column to said second confined contacting zone at a rate varying with said controlled pressure effected in said receiving zone and the pressure difierential between the inlet and outlet ends of the venturi restriction.

3. A method for metering the flow of subdivided solid particles from one confined contacting zone to a second confined contacting zone which comprises, discharging said solid particles from the first contacting zone through a venturi passageway into a confined receiving zone at a controlled superatmospheric pressure whereby to maintain a controlled pressure differential across said venturi, continuously passing said particles from said receiving zone through a variable height U-column of particles to a sec-= 0nd contacting zone, permitting the height of said U-column of moving particles to vary and to maintain the pressure differential between said receiving zone and said second contacting zone and thereby controlling the rate of flow of said particles from one zone to another as a function of the pressure differential between the inlet and outlet ends of said venturi passageway.

4. The method of claim 3 further characterized in that said rate of flow of said particles from one zone to another is varied and controlled proportionately to the square root of the pressure differential maintained between the inlet and outlet ends of said venturi passageway.

GEORGE F. ADAMS.

No references cited. 

